Klopp responds angrily to Sturridge questions

Having been restored to the starting XI at the Vitality Stadium – as one of ten changes made by Klopp from their midweek European exploits – Sturridge created the visitors’ opening goal, scored their second and almost added a further two in their 2-1 Barclays Premier League win. It was a successful experiment, all in all.

Klopp preferred Divock Origi from the start against Borussia Dortmund in midweek and previously told Sturridge he needed to learn the difference between “serious pain and what is only pain” following a number of injury problems.

And the Liverpool boss responded angrily in the post-match press conference when asked by Darren Lewis of the Daily Mirror about Sturridge’s performance before that of his team.

“Interesting!” the 48-year-old responded. “We have a football game and you want to talk about one player? That is not a role I like.

“He was very good. He’s a brilliant player, but are you not interested in the game?”

Asked if he felt Sturridge had won the game for the Reds, Klopp replied: “No! That’s how you understand the game, that one player can win a game?

“He scored a goal, but was it from a cross or not? We live on different planets, I think, if you think one player can win a game.

“This is a game where we have 11 players in different positions. And you are interested in only one player?!”

“Each player had influence today, so do you want to ask the same question of every player? I understand this as a team game. I enjoyed the game of Daniel Sturridge today, really. But to get a question like this, after a game like this, I don’t really understand.

“Nobody is undroppable. I never look at any player and think ‘I can’t leave him out.’ As a manager I decide if I play with one, two, three or four strikers.

“He’s a brilliant player. (But) this is a game with 11 players. And we come to this. And you are interested in one player? Each player had influence. I understand it as a team game. I enjoyed the game of Daniel Sturridge.

“We have a football game and you want to talk about one player at the first moment. That’s not the role I like. He was very good, but if you are not interested in the game…”